"Any pursuers?" Commander Grayson asked.

  "Nothing so far. We had a few yesterday, but they were all Imperial warships that backed off once we entered Federation-controlled space," Ivan replied.

  "Good. Find a farming planet with an outpost and put the ship down. This will be our final stop." Grayson’s voice was steady, but the dark circles under his eyes betrayed the exhaustion of spending too many hours in the cockpit.

  The last twenty-four hours had been tense for the crew of the Black Swan. Kai had made it back alive from the depths of New Oliver, but in doing so, he had unintentionally uncovered a secret they were never meant to know. And judging by how violently the Empire had responded, it was clear they had been hiding more than anyone had suspected.

  Kai sat on the bridge, lost in thought.

  The realization chilled him. The conspiracy was bigger than he had ever imagined. This wasn’t just about warning the Federation and the Empire about the entity that had dimmed the stars. If the Empire already knew, then what else had they been hiding? Worse, his newly acquired criminal status meant he was now unwelcome in Imperial space, cutting off any chance of investigating further.

  The only good news was that the Federation hadn’t declared their stance yet. Kai suspected Admiral Steele had put in a few good words for them, knowing the weight of what they had uncovered.

  With a few keystrokes, Kai pulled up the news feed on the main display. It took a moment to connect to the nearest relay, but once it did, several headlines about New Oliver filled the screen. Most of the articles focused on the dropship incident, reporting on how two Imperial pilots had died after their interceptors were shot down.

  Kai stared at the reports for a moment, then closed the feed and turned his gaze toward the viewport. The Black Swan was on its final approach.

  This would be the last time he set foot on a planet within human-controlled space. After this, they would be heading into deep space—uncharted territory that Grayson had named No Man’s Land.

  Kai stood and stretched before leaving the bridge. Eliana was in the cargo bay helping Lily, and he wanted to check in on her.

  As he walked, his mind drifted back to the previous night. He and Eliana had spent the night together, their connection deepening in ways he hadn’t expected. His face warmed slightly, and he shook his head, trying to push the memories aside.

  Focus, Kai. There are more important things to worry about right now, he told himself. But the small smile on his face refused to fade.

  Eliana’s laughter was the first thing he heard as he stepped into the cargo bay. She was leaning against the railing near the entrance, her back to him. Smiling, he walked up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a soft kiss to the back of her neck.

  "Oh, there he is," Lily’s amused voice called out from below.

  Kai peered over the railing and spotted her sitting in the pilot seat of a Kamotsu Mover—a small, personal mech designed for transporting heavy cargo. She looked up at them, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

  Kai leaned closer to Eliana, lowering his voice. "How much did you tell her?"

  "Not much," Eliana whispered back, her face turning red. "But you know how she is. She took one look at me and figured out the whole thing."

  "You know that now that Lily knows, the whole ship will know by the time they have their next meal," Kai said, sighing.

  "I can hear you talking about me," Lily shouted up at them. She smirked but kept her eyes on her work. "Don't worry, your secrets are safe with me."

  Kai shook his head, he changed the subject. "What's with all the moving?"

  Lily shrugged and continued maneuvering the Kamotsu Mover around the cargo bay. "Just clearing up space so we can do a final resupply before heading into No Man’s Land. Thanks to you, no Imperial or neutral planet will give us landing permissions."

  "I'm sorry, but that's really not my fault," Kai said, crossing his arms.

  "I know, I know," Lily said, waving a hand. "Just giving you a hard time, since you’ve given me one." She nudged the mech forward toward the entrance, grinning.

  The ship beneath them trembled slightly as the landing sequence finalized. The overhead light near the ramp flickered from red to green.

  Eliana took Kai’s hand, squeezing it lightly. "Shall we?"

  Kai nodded and pressed the "Lower" button on the platform. The metal beneath them gave a soft hiss before beginning its slow descent.

  "Going outside?" Lily called after them, eyeing them with a mischievous glint.

  "Yeah, just for some fresh air," Kai replied.

  "Oh, let me help you with that," Lily said, grinning. She lifted the mech’s arm, mirroring her own movement, and pressed a large button overhead.

  With a low mechanical groan, the ship’s ramp began lowering. The gears whirred, then locked into place, revealing the world outside.

  A small outpost sat just ahead, a cluster of simple buildings set against an endless backdrop of rolling grasslands and golden fields. The sky stretched far, untouched by towering structures or thick pollution clouds.

  Lily waved at them as they stepped onto the ramp. Her mech mimicked the gesture, its clawed hand moving in sync with her own.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Kai exhaled deeply, then took in a slow breath, feeling the warm, open air fill his lungs. The fresh scent of soil and grass was something he rarely experienced. He exchanged a glance with Eliana, who smiled at him before tugging gently on his hand.

  He understood her intent instantly. How could he not? The sight of the vast green field stretched out before them, almost unreal in its beauty.

  Real grass was a rare sight on Drakmoor, and even more so in most human-controlled worlds. Terraforming was a slow, grueling process, and few planets prioritized natural landscapes over industrial development. But here, on this small agricultural planet, it thrived. They grew grass—exporting it to places like Velmorra and Drakmoor, where the soil would never support something so simple yet so alive.

  The moment Eliana stepped onto the grass, she started running. Her hair danced in the wind, catching sunlight. She turned back, laughing, her eyes reflecting the warm glow of the sun as she silently urged him to hurry.

  She was breathtaking.

  For a second, Kai forgot to move, stunned by how effortlessly beautiful she looked. But then his feet carried him forward, off the ramp, onto the soft grass. The feeling beneath him was surreal—they were genetically engineered to be lush, soft, and perfectly trimmed. It felt almost like running across silk.

  He caught up to Eliana in no time. She grinned, pulling on his arm, and together they ran across the golden field, the wind rushing past them, the world around them fading into nothing but each other.

  "Hey!" Kai heard Eliana shout behind him. He turned just in time for her to crash into him, tackling him to the ground in a fit of laughter.

  The soft grass cushioned their fall, and neither of them felt a thing. Kai laughed, wrapping his arms around her as she lay on top of him, her giggles mixing with his.

  She placed her hands on his chest, pushing herself up slightly, her long hair falling over her face. Through the strands, he could see her smiling, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

  Kai reached up, brushing away the moisture gathering in her eyes.

  Eliana caught his hand in hers, holding it against her cheek, her fingers gently rubbing against his skin.

  "I missed you so much, Kai," she whispered. "You have no idea how hard it was for me these past nights without you."

  Kai swallowed, emotions tightening his throat. "I missed you too."

  A few tears slipped free, but she didn’t try to hide them. Instead, she smiled—a raw, relieved smile, one that carried all the emotions she had bottled up.

  "I visited your room when I couldn’t sleep," she admitted. "I looked at our photos, remembering every moment. Not once did I think you were dead. I knew you were too stubborn to die. You're the toughest person I know."

  Kai exhaled shakily. "I never lost hope either. I knew you guys would come for me. Commander Grayson told me you snuck out in the middle of the night, looking for me."

  Eliana nodded. "I couldn't sit around waiting. I needed to know what happened to you. I almost got caught by the AEC. Pretty sure they’ve marked me as a criminal too."

  They both chuckled, hands entwined.

  "Thank you, Eliana, for everything" Kai said softly. " I guess we’re partners in crime now."

  "Yes, we are." She smirked. "Though I doubt my father is going to be thrilled when he hears about this."

  Kai grinned. "Your mother will plead our case."

  "Oh, no doubt about that," Eliana said with a laugh.

  Their eyes met, and this time, she leaned in slowly, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against his lips.

  "Please don’t leave my side again," she murmured.

  "I won’t," Kai promised, pulling her into a hug as he sat up. She buried her face in his shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly around him.

  They both turned their heads toward the Black Swan, where its massive ramp was lowered, accepting supplies from the colony.

  Eliana stood first, offering Kai her hand. He took it, letting her pull him to his feet.

  "Let’s go back to the ship," she said.

  Together, they walked toward the looming shape of the Black Swan, the contrast between its dark hull and the bright golden fields making it look even larger than it was.

  The colony was small and lacked the heavy equipment used at larger depots, meaning all the supplies had to be loaded manually. The locals didn’t seem to mind, though. In fact, they looked eager—grateful for the opportunity to trade with a ship like the Black Swan.

  The steep ramp made moving cargo difficult. Several workers struggled to push heavy pallets up into the ship, their muscles straining under the weight.

  Lily maneuvered the Kamotsu Mover, helping with the heavier loads. Kai’s eyes landed on an older man who was struggling to push a large pallet. The moment the load started tipping back, the mover’s mechanical claw caught the edge, preventing a disaster.

  Eliana and Kai exchanged a look before hurrying over, pressing their backs against the cargo to help push.

  The old man looked up in surprise before smiling. "Ah, thank you! Thank you both!"

  Kai returned the smile and pushed harder. The pallet was heavy, but once they got the momentum going, it became easier. With Eliana’s help, they managed to roll it up the ramp and into the cargo bay.

  That night, the crew of the Black Swan, along with the colony’s settlers, gathered around a large campfire in the middle of the settlement. The warm glow of the burning logs flickered against their faces, casting long shadows as laughter and conversation filled the night air.

  The smell of roasting food and fresh earth mixed with the crisp evening breeze.

  "Thank you for being so friendly, and thank you for helping our humble community," a familiar voice said.

  Kai and Eliana looked up to see the old man from earlier. He held two steaming cups in his hands, offering them with a kind smile.

  They each took a cup, and as Kai brought it closer, a sweet aroma filled his senses. He set it beside him, letting the heat warm his hands.

  Eliana took a sip first and gasped. "This is so delicious! What is this?"

  The old man chuckled. "It’s a new kind of cocoa fruit we engineered here. We hope it will bring our community some much-needed attention—maybe even turn this little settlement into a prosperous town, or one day, a city."

  Curious, Kai took a sip. The drink was smooth, rich, and comforting, with a deep chocolate flavor and a unique aftertaste he couldn’t quite place. It was unlike any cocoa he had ever tasted.

  "I love it. A lot," Kai said, nodding approvingly. "I hope it brings you the success you’re looking for."

  The old man beamed. "Thank you, son. Best of luck to you too. And I promise—your kids will be very good-looking."

  Kai and Eliana both turned bright red as the man walked away, chuckling to himself.

  Kai exhaled and looked up at the sky. The stars stretched endlessly above them, more visible here than anywhere else he had been. It was sight so rare in most crowded, polluted worlds. Yet, as he stared, his smile faded.

  How many stars had dimmed because of the thing? How many had vanished before anyone even noticed?

  A small, warm hand slid over his, grounding him back to the present. He glanced at Eliana, who simply smiled and leaned against him, her presence offering more reassurance than words ever could.

  Together, they watched the stars, knowing that tomorrow, they would leave this place behind.

  "You nervous?" Eliana asked softly. "Because I am. I don’t want to lose you again. It’s making me... soft."

  Kai shook his head. "No, Eliana. I think it’s making you stronger." He turned to her, his gaze steady. "You were so brave. Sneaking out during curfew to search for me. Coming down into the depths, not knowing what dangers you’d face. And you never hesitated."

  Eliana’s face flushed slightly. "Oh, stop, you’re making me blush," she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Then, more seriously, she added, "You know I’d do anything for you."

  "So would I, Eliana." Kai squeezed her hand gently. "I love you."

  Before she could respond, a voice crackled through the comm pinned to Eliana’s uniform.

  "Alright, you two lovebirds," Teresa’s amused voice broadcasted from Eliana's swan pin. "Time to wrap it up. We’re moving out."

  In the distance, the Black Swan’s massive engines roared to life, sending ripples through the grasslands. The ship’s silhouette stood stark against the golden fields, its ramp still open, waiting for them.

  Kai stood, pulling Eliana up with him.

  It was time to go.